Taunton area residents who ran in the Boston Marathon expressed sorrow, along with resilience, as they reflected on the bombing that killed three and injured more than 180 near the finish line of the race on Monday.

Marc Larocque

Taunton area residents who ran in the Boston Marathon expressed sorrow, along with resilience, as they reflected on the bombing that killed three and injured more than 180 near the finish line of the race on Monday.

“I am still deeply saddened and numbed by this event,” said first-time marathon runner Carissa Catarella, 26, of Taunton. “I cannot handle seeing any of the images posted on Facebook, and I still cry when I think about it. I just hope that everyone injured makes a speedy recovery, and I will continue to pray for them and their families.”

Catarella’s boyfriend was waiting for her at the finish line, with a soon-to-be derailed plan to propose to her as she completed the race. Catarella, a Weymouth native, was on “Heartbreak Hill” when the bombs went off, before her father picked her up and she wept as the horrific news sunk in.

“After discussing the tragedy of the day, my family and I tried to focus on the positive,” said Catarella, expressing gratefulness that her loved ones were not hurt and mentioning that she used the marathon to raise money for Boston Partners in Education.

At the end of dinner, her boyfriend Mark Tigano came over, knelt on one knee and asked Catarella to marry him. She said yes — in spite of whoever inflicted the day’s horrors, Catarella added.

“It was more intimate later at the restaurant, with family there,” Catarella said. “He didn’t want the cowards to ruin it.”

Catarella said she is not going to let the attacks stop her from running in the Boston Marathon next year.

“My heart is heavy for all that were affected by this senseless tragedy,” said Jillian Corrao, 32, of Taunton. “This horrific event is devastating for the victims, their families, the BAA (Boston Athletic Association), the volunteers, the runners, the charitable organizations, the city of Boston, the nation and the world. The Boston Marathon is a world renowned, international event that was perpetrated yesterday, and I hope that justice is served to honor all that have been affected.”

Corrao, owner of the Taunton-based Corrao Electric Co., was at mile marker 22 when she got a call saying that there was an explosion; and she started weeping as her family looked on from the sidewalk, before they all got into a taxi to leave the city. Corrao, who was running the Boston marathon for the first time, was using the race to raise money for the Ace Bailey Children’s Foundation.

“Everyone at the marathon was a target, and it is surreal and unimaginable,” she said. “You honestly never expect that you will be in the middle of this kind of a situation. We are all still in shock.”

Taunton mother Stacy Blette was nearly at the 25th mile when she was stopped by race officials, and made to walk in the opposite direction. Unbeknownst to Blette, her sister from Maine was in the bleachers near the finish line, but was unharmed.